Fire-damaged residence hall at Loras College will be torn down

Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, will tear down the north building of a residence hall complex that was significantly damaged earlier this year in a fire.

Loras College President Jim Collins says the school has decided to raze the north end of 126-year-old Visitation complex after concluding that insurance payments from the fire will not cover the costs of rebuilding.

“In the end, the money available through our policy is much less than what we believe will be the actual cost to rebuild the structure in the way it deserves,” Collins says.

The fully restored south building remains completely operational.

The north end of the complex sustained heavy damage when lightning struck in the early morning of March 16. All students and staff inside the building at the time were accounted for and evacuated safely. Displaced students were subsequently provided housing elsewhere on campus.

Instead of rebuilding the facility, the college's Board of Regents will review options to invest settlement funds into strategic priorities.